I am a faculty member in computer and cognitive sciences at the University of Toronto. My research explores the intersection of language, cognition, and computation.

Natural language utilizes a finite vocabulary to express an infinite array of ideas. I investigate how we adapt the lexicon to convey emerging meanings and whether the underlying cognitive processes can be understood in computational terms. I am particularly interested in the problems of semantic change and how words acquire new meanings through time (e.g., over history or in child development) and the extent to which computational models can replicate these processes to construct and interpret novel word meanings.

In a related line of work, I have been involved in projects that analyze cross-language universals and variation in semantic categories and grammatical structures. I also build computational tools for characterizing the relationships between language and other cognitive domains such as morality.

Lexicon development and evolution

Cross-language analysis

Language-based tools